The Quezon Huskers are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Quezon. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are one of five active teams based in Calabarzon and play their home games at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena.

Quezon Huskers
2024 Quezon Huskers season
Quezon Huskers logo
LeagueURBL (2004–2005)
MPBL (2023–present)
PSL (2023–present)
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004) (first incarnation)
2023; 1 year ago (2023) (second incarnation)
HistoryQuezon Coco Huskers
2004–2005 (URBL)
Quezon Huskers
2023–present (MPBL)
Quezon Titans
2023–present (PSL)
ArenaQuezon Convention Center
LocationLucena, Quezon
Team colors     
Head coachEric Gonzales
ChampionshipsPSL: 1 (2024)

The team's first incarnation was the Quezon Coco Huskers of the United Regional Basketball League (URBL). The team ran from 2004 until 2005. The Huskers were then revived as an expansion team for the MPBL's 2023 season. The team also competes Pilipinas Super League (PSL) under the name Quezon Titans.

The team also has a Junior MPBL side in the Quezon Junior Huskers for the junior league's inaugural season. The team is owned by the Provincial Government of Quezon.[1][2]

The Quezon-based franchise won one championship, during the PSL's President's Cup in 2024.

History edit

First incarnation (2004–2005) edit

The team began play in 2004, when it was part of the now-defunct URBL.

Second incarnation (2023–present) edit

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League edit

In January 2023, the MPBL announced that the league would be getting a new expansion team for the 2023 season. Later that month, Quezon Governor Angelina Tan announced that the team would be based in the province of Quezon. The team's name was later revealed as the Quezon Huskers. With the Huskers joining, Quezon became the last province in Calabarzon to have an MPBL team.

The team hosted the 2023 season opener, where they faced off against fellow expansion team Negros Muscovados. The Huskers pulled off a comeback in the second half to beat the Muscovados, 82–80.[1] The Huskers would then go on a seven-game winning streak to begin their inaugural season and eventually finish with a record of 19–9, clinching the fifth seed in the South Division. Quezon became the first team in the professional era to make the playoffs in its inaugural season. Despite forcing a game 3 in the First Round, the team would lose to the defending South champion Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.

Pilipinas Super League edit

In October 2023, Quezon announced its entry to the PSL during the MPBL offseason. The team will be referred to as the Quezon Titans.

Team identity edit

The name Huskers alludes to Quezon Province's moniker as the "Coconut Capital of the Philippines'. It can also be a nod to the team's previous incarnation.

When the Huskers joined the MPBL in 2023, Governor Angelina Tan also announced a name-the-team contest, where anyone based in Quezon Province can submit a concept design of the team's identity. The contest was won by Ardocir Torio from Lucena, with an illustration of a carabao breaking the shell of a coconut. The same logo would be later used for the Quezon Junior Huskers. For their PSL debut later that year, the team uses the Titans moniker.

Current roster edit

Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 1 Roño, Robin National-U
G 2 Torres, Xyrus 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 2000-09-23 Far Eastern
F 3 Rivero, Prince 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1995–02–19 De La Salle
F 4 Salonga, Rafael (HG)
F 5 Sandagon, Ximone (HG) Far Eastern
G/F 7 Fuentes, Judel Ric 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Centro Escolar
8 Matillano, Domark
G 9 Gonzales, Ljay 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Far Eastern
F 10 Alcala, Mark (HG) De La Salle
F 12 Gravera, Rodel (HG) Far Eastern
F 14 Saitanan, Jessie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–10–07 Mapúa
F/C 15 Gozum, Will 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1999–04–08 St. Benilde
F/C 17 Opiso, Jason Centro Escolar
G 18 Torres, Thomas 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 1994–10–27 De La Salle
19 Buñag, Christian
G/F 20 Lagrama, Christopher (HG)
F 24 Minerva, RJ National-U
G/F 25 Tamsi, Al Francis 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 158 lb (72 kg) 1992–03–25 Far Eastern
G 29 Abundo, Alvin 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–10–29 Centro Escolar
33 Canon, Lander
44 Marasigan, Felipe (HG) St. Benilde
F 77 Banal, Gab 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1990–09–09 Mapúa
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  •   Injured

Updated as of: April 20, 2024

Head coaches edit

Notable players edit

Quezon Huskers notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Alfrancis Tamsi 2023–present 1 (2023)
Mark Alcala 2023–present 1 (2023)

Season-by-season records edit

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League edit

Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish W L PCT Stage Results
Quezon Huskers
2023 South 5th 19 9 .679 First Round lost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2024 South To be determined
All-time regular season record 19 9 .679 1 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record 1 2 .333 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 20 11 .645 0 championships

Pilipinas Super League edit

Season Elimination round Playoffs
Finish W L PCT Stage Results
Quezon Titans
2023–24
President's Cup
5th 14 4 .778 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
won vs. Novaliches, 1–0
won vs. Caloocan, 2–0
won vs. Biñan, 2–0
won vs. Nueva Ecija, 3–1
All-time elimination round record 14 4 .778 1 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 8 1 .889 1 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 22 5 .815 1 championships

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Quezon Huskers edge Negros for first win in MPBL". The Manila Times. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Terrado, Reuben (March 11, 2023). "Quezon Huskers eye playoff berth in maiden stint in MPBL". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.